Working Words

Working Words is a collection of ‘chats’ about aspects of editing and writing. The book is for dipping into. It’s not a textbook, but it is a companion to books on grammar, style, punctuation, plain English, editing and the business of being a freelance writer or editor.

Buy Working Words

You can buy Working Words directly from us for $40 if you collect your book from us at our monthly meetings, or $53 if we mail it to you (to Australia only). See Order your copy of Working Words for instructions on how to buy a copy directly from us online, or you can pay by cash or cheque at the meeting. Details of our next meeting are on our home page.

Melbourne: Readings bookshop in Carlton (also available online at the Readings website)

Buyers from South Africa should contact the Professional Editors’ Group (PEG) at www.editors.org.za for further information.

Description

Working Words is a collection of ‘chats’ about aspects of editing and writing. It is based on articles written by Distinguished Editor Elizabeth Manning Murphy for The Canberra editor over a period of ten years. The book is for dipping into. It’s not a textbook, but it is a companion to books on grammar, style, punctuation, plain English, editing and the business of being a freelance writer or editor.

Many of the chats happened as a direct result of requests from working editors, would-be-editors, and people who didn’t learn the ‘whys’ and ‘wherefores’ of English grammar at school. It’s in a chatty style, with a few fun pieces, which are quirkily called ‘itchy pencils’. Have you ever wished you had a pencil handy when you saw something itching to be written down or corrected? That’s ‘itchypencilitis’!

About the author

Elizabeth Manning Murphy JP BA(Hons) FCES FSBT AFAIM DE is a trained linguist, a consultant in communication skills, an editor and a trainer in effective writing, based in Canberra, Australia, but working worldwide. She is a member of the Canberra Society of Editors and the Society of Editors (Vic), an Associate of the Society for Editors and Proofreaders (UK), and received the honorary award of Distinguished Editor (DE) from the Institute of Professional Editors (IPEd), Australia, in 2008.

Formerly a teacher of office skills in England and Australia, and a management consultant, she is the author of Effective writing: plain English at work and a number of other publications about writing and business skills.

Reviews

‘Again and again, one marvels at solid content accessibly expressed, at the work of someone who clearly loves to share and impart knowledge accumulated through long reflection and experience.’ Isabelle Delvare, President, Professional Editors’ Group, South Africa. [Read more …]

‘This is a very interesting and straightforward companion for people concerned with good written English and editing. It addresses important issues about style, grammar and punctuation, and combines these elements in a chatty, accessible and practical way. There’s also very useful content about liaison and communication, which is especially valuable for beginning editors.’ Dr Paul Hetherington, Writing Program, University of Canberra

‘I recommend a local discovery, Working Words by Elizabeth Manning Murphy, a professional editor of this parish both sound and interesting on usage, grammar, style and editing of text. Hers is a book which could be a textbook for a proper course in English, but also, like Fowler, or Partridge or Gowers, will give pleasure, satisfaction and smugness in equal measure even to the already literate. Literally.’ Jack Waterford, Canberra Times 19 February 2012. [Read more …]